Goodbye to retro, hello to high-tech

AUTHOR(S)

Miller, Joe

PUB. DATE

January 2000

SOURCE

Automotive News;1/3/2000, Vol. 74 Issue 5855, p12FS

SOURCE TYPE

Trade Publication

DOC. TYPE

Article

ABSTRACT

Describes American transportation design student Marc Brownlow's vision of the automobile industry's future. Development of technologically advanced vehicles; Design of a three-wheel racer for the 21st century.

Presents some facts pertaining to the worldwide automobile industry. Statistical information about the automobile industry; Relationship of the automobile industry and the world's energy supply; Prospect of a future that is somewhat unhooked from automobiles; Number of automobiles by 2050.

Forecasts the status of the automobile industry in the United States and Japan in 1998. Implication of the prevalence of rebates and cut-rate financing; Gains of Japanese automakers in the market; Percentage growth in truck sales; Role of incentives in 1998; Account on sedans made by Chrysler;...

Explores the range of visions for the future of automobiles. Scheme for a world devoid of nearly all automobiles; Liberation of cars from two dimensional travel; Presence of hardware and software to make the visions feasible; Key element of presentism.

Offers observations on the condition of automobile industry in the United States. Sales predicted by most analysts and economists by 2000; Why many economists and automakers are befuddled by the strength of automotive sales; Overview of three vehicles to be launched in 2000.

Focuses on the predicted annual growth of automobile production from 2002 to 2010. Capacity growth predicted in North America and Western Europe; Number of units to be added to the annual automobile production in China; Combined production capacity in Africa and the Middle East.

Forecasts that French car industries will produce smart, cleaner and fully recycled cars in the future. How the giant step of France towards 100% recyclable cars came; Other plans of France in producing cleaner and quieter cars; How France will invent a car with navigating systems.

Presents an outlook on the automobile industry in Puerto Rico for 1999. Trend in the industry; Best selling categories in Puerto Rico's auto market; Importance of the sports utility vehicles (SUVs) market for car manufacturers.